The PM has been criticised for his confusing message on coronavirus in the past few weeks, and there has been a demand for greater clarity on his new measures.

Jeremy Corbyn said: “There now needs to be clear guidance to employers and workers about which workplaces should close – and the government must close the loopholes to give security to all workers, including the self-employed, as well as renters and mortgage holders.”

He told BBC Breakfast: “There is no way really that the police can enforce this using powers.

“It has got to be because the public hugely support it, that there is peer pressure and there is continuing clarification from government about the message.

"If you compare us to Italy, we have about half the number of police officers that they have. Our police officers are already very stretched.

“There is no way that this can be achieved through enforcement alone. It will have to be that the public hugely accept it and the government continues to issue clarification and reinforces the message."